Mt Washington Alpine Resort
Nordic XC Report
Weather
Now 3:05 PM - 2024-12-03
7 °c | 44 °f
H: 9°c | 49°f
L: 1°c | 34°f
Wind: 0km/hr SW
Humidity: 87%
Wed
H: 7°
L: 7°
Thu
H: 5°
L: 4°
Fri
H: 2°
L: 1°
Trail Report
XC Trail
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Trackset
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Snowshoe
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Tobogganing
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Nordic Grooming FAQs
One snowcat generally starts at 11 pm or 12 am.
The goal is for groomers to have completed their tasks and will be off the trails by 9 a.m. for opening.
During the normal grooming shift or prior to 9:00 am the snowcats will be traveling in any direction on the trails as this helps move snow to where it should be, can help with track setting, and contributes to an economical grooming route. The snowcat may frequently back up as the operator rebuilds a section of trail, carves into the sides to widen the trail, collects snow to fill in holes in creeks, and fills in the dips between steep pitches. This is why, out of safety for staff and guests, the trails do not open until 9 a.m., to ensure the groomer is safely off the trails before skiing commences.
- The trails also take time to set and firm up if a skier uses a trail immediately after it has been groomed, the surface will still be extremely soft and will cause significant ruts in the trail until it is groomed again.
- The indented tracks the skier leaves behind are there until the trail is re-groomed the next day or other skiers gradually wear them down. This means that other skiers have to contend with the ruts in the trail and that can trip them up.
- Tilling the snow removes air within the snowpack, heats the snow crystals with friction, and breaks off the arms of the snowflakes. The snow then requires some time to cool down and “re-freeze”. This is why it is important to let the trails set after grooming, rather than having skiers on the trail immediately after the operator is complete, particularly in the skate ski lane.
- A fresh, deep snowfall only allows the tracks, the tiller, and the blade to physically disturb the top layers. This compresses and hardens up the top layer of the snow but there often is a soft layer immediately underneath that affects skaters.
- Classic skiers can ski in the tracks immediately after the snowcat has passed by as the pans compress the snow.
- Skaters are a different story. The process of cooling and consolidating the skate lane takes from 10 minutes to 25 minutes depending on the humidity, age, and temperature of the snow. Fresh snow takes longer than old snow.
- Out of continued safety for our staff and guests and as a standard set by commercial operators and the Canada West Ski Area Association, we do not operate a snowcat on the trails while operational. In some circumstances, this is not the case. If by chance the groomer is caught out on an area later than normal, then the resort will use a snowmobile escort to ensure the machine is safely off the trails and to indicate to skiers that a snowcat is following.
- We have a close working relationship with BC Parks and maintain safe operating procedures based on our permit to operate within Strathcona Park and environmental impact management and therefore cannot operate within the park until we have at least 1 meter of settled snowpack.
- All guests using the trails we manage within Strathcona Park must obtain a valid trail pass or Season Pass to gain access.
- Those going into the park and not following the marked trail may do so without a trail pass, however, you must know where you are going, have proper route-finding skills, and carry adequate supplies to ensure safety on your trip.
TODAY AT Raven Lodge
Early Opening Weekends Again December 7th - 8th, 2024
The mountain is now closed midweek. Get your skis onto the snow ahead of schedule at Mount Washington for our early opening bonus weekends, from November 30th to December 1st and again December, 7th - 8th, 2024. Stay tuned for more details about what is opening this coming weekend. View hours of operation here
Nordic Pulse | Mount Washington Grooming Report
Updated: December 2nd, 2024 at 08:50 AM - 08:48AM